Alienation of Affection

Disclaimer: Not mine...never was, never will be! Blu Ray Season 1 came out Today! Thanks Paramount!

Chapter 8 : Coitus Interruptus ******************************************************************************************************************************
Main Bridge
Tactical Station

Lt. Commander Worf was more than a little perterbed. He was used to Ensign Crusher being caught up in an experiment or something and being late for his duty as Ensign Gates waited patiently at the Conn to be relieved of duty, but for Commander Data to not be punctual was just un heard of.

"Lt. Worf to Ensign Crusher." he demanded but received no response. He repeated his page angrily, but again received nothing more than silence.

"Computer what is the location of Wesley Crusher."

"Wesley Crusher is in his quarters."

Worf growled..."He must be asleep." Computer scan Ensign Crusher's brain and life wave functions through his comm badge."

"There are no life signs present from Ensign Crusher." Worf looked at the Comm panel as if it were growing horns as a few of the staff members turned around when they heard the computers reply.

He secured a private channel and called for Data.

"Lt. Worf to Commander Data." he was greeted with empty silence.

"Commander Data come in..." he growled again.

"Computer, locate Commander Data."

"Commander Data is not on the Enterprise." Worf eyes narrowed as he touched his comm panel again. He didn't want to disturb the Captain yet, but if two officers were late for duty, missing with no forthcoming information he would have to be alerted soon.

Worf had no choice. He contacted Commander LaForge and asked him to check the quarters of Commander Data and Ensign Crusher. He would not be able to leave the bridge himself until another officer came to relieve him. Worf walked to the front of the bridge and sat down in the captain's chair. It felt right to sit in the seat of authority once again.

Deck 8

Geordi arrived at Commander Data's quarters. As the door slid open he looked around to see if there was anything out of the ordinary. He picked up Data's paint brushes and looked around Data's science station. He didn't see anything unusual or out of place.

He was startled by the purr of Data's cat Spot as he nearly tripped on the furry beast sitting in front of Data's closet. Staring at the door, Geordi's sensor picked up a strange signature. As he pressed the door to open, Data's stiff form fell into his arms.

"Whoa ...what the hell?" he caught the android as his heavy dead weight made them both fall to the floor. Data was completely non responsive. He'd been deactivated. Geordi reached down and pulled the latch on the android's left side and reactivated him. Data immediately sat up and began looking around at his surroundings.

"Data are you ok?"

"I am functioning within...normal parameters."

"What happened? How did you get deactivated?"

He nearly leapt from his seated position in one step as he stood up.

"I do not know."

"You were in the closet, any idea how you got in there?"

Data searched his memory banks.

"The last thing my records indicate is speaking with Wesley Crusher in the corridor before entering my quarters."

"Wesley did this to you?"

"I do not believe so. At last I spoke with him, I was about to report concern for his safety to the captain."

"I didn't think...Wait...why? Did something happen? Wes didn't show up for duty...and the computer says he's in his quarters...I was headed there next." Data left his quarters as Geordi, with a puzzled expression, quickly fell into place behind him.

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2025 hrs

With the beta shift in shift change the corridors were mercifully clear. Wesley used every ounce of his remaining energy to enter the quarters after once again putting in the override code. As the door quietly swooshed open in front of him, he was greeted with the sounds of moans and giggles at the sight in front of his eyes. He almost wished his mother would leap up and hit him in the head to knock the images from his eidetic brain.

He was a little more than shocked to find his half naked mother straddling a rather subdued equally undressed Captain Picard but stood unwavered in his attempts. He was shaking from head to toe from the sheer shock of his injuries but managed to raise his device and aim it towards his mother.

Sensing his presence she turned around pulling her bra strap back in place and leapt to her feet startling Wesley as Captain Picard who seemed to be dazed stared at him.

"Mr. Crusher...what the hell are you doing here? Why are you not on duty?"

"Captain..." he stammered.

"What the...Put that down!" Picard screamed.

"Sir... you should back away... from her, ...she...my... mother is not herself." his timbre vibrated, his stance wavering.

"What the devil are you talking about? I gave you an order Mr. Crusher." Captain Picard sat up and tried to rise to his feet, but woozily slumped back to the seat. He stared back up at Beverly as he watched her pull something from behind the sofa.

"Commander Data and I believe she is under the influence of some type of parasite...a symbiot of some kind that has been affecting her since she returned from Volarus 4."

He looked at Wesley and noticed that the boy really did not look well at all. His left arm was hanging swollen to twice its normal size down beside his body. His pale face had a streak of dried blood coming from his hair as he stood leaning towards the wall his right arm raised at attention.

"He's really losing it Jean Luc. I've had nothing but trouble with him since I've returned."

When he turned to face Beverly again he saw that she had a phaser in her hand as she moved away from him and began to step towards Wesley to get a clear shot.

"Dr. Crusher, lower your weapon, your son seems to be ill. I will call security. "

"No...Don't." she said aiming the weapon at Wesley's chest. "You call and he'll be screaming before you finish the communique." Picard heard these words and slowly began moving towards her.

"Stop or I'll kill him, then I'll kill her too."

"Wesley, just leave. I'll call security."

"No way! He goes nowhere." She fired a single blast. Wesley managed to move at the last moment but not fast enough to avoid a phaser blast to his hip as screamed with pain and fell to his knees, panting, still holding fast to his device.

"Wesley, you're going to have to fire." Captain Picard said. Wesley closed his eyes as a single tear escaped his lid.

He put his finger on the fire button, but he couldn't push. He couldn't bring himself to injure his own mother, he knew it would cause her great pain and could not bear to be the cause of it. But if he didn't, this creature that had taken over his mother's body would kill him, and the Captain and possibly take over the ship. He shakily placed his hand on the button again when he was stopped by a blood curdling scream.

"Nooo! the voice screamed. "You will not kill my son." she said as the phaser shook in her hand. Wesley opened his eyes as he watched his mothers face change. Tears were pouring down her face as the phaser was now turned and aimed towards her chest.

"I won't let you hurt him anymore." The being continued to fight to pull the weapon away from her chest but Beverly held fast, her love for her son giving her more than enough strength to fight.

"Beverly, drop the weapon..." Picard begged.

"I have to kill it. Look at what its done to my son."

Beverly took a deep shuddering breath, "Please forgive me Wesley."

"Beverly no!"
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